Knowing how to clean beauty blenders with these different methods will help save you time and money and improve your skin

Knowing how to clean beauty blenders with these simple tips will not only save you time, it could save you money.

Dirty sponges don’t last as long as clean blenders, plus they’re a breeding ground for bacteria and dirt.

This could mean that all that money you’re spending on cleansers, spot creams, and exfoliators is being wasted if you’re not keeping your tools clean.

How to clean beauty blenders

Below we’ve outlined three methods, depending on how much time you have when you come to clean your beauty blenders.

We’ve also revealed our pick of the best cleansers and soaps based on our real-world tests.

Alternatively, read how to clean makeup brushes.

How to clean beauty blenders: Soap method

Beauty Blender

Cost: Around £5/$5 for the soap/cleanser | Time: 10-15 minutes

The first way to clean beauty blenders is called the soap method. The best kinds of soaps to use are relatively low-strength ones, using powerful soap is more likely to dry out the sponge or break down the material entirely (products like Irish Spring Deodorant Soap, Johnson’s Baby Shampoo or any of the beautyblender beautycleanser range are ideal).

How to clean beauty blenders with soap

This method shows how to clean beauty blenders if you’ve got time to do a proper job and a fair amount of energy.

1. Get the blender wet, not soaking, with warm water
2. Apply the soap or cleanser of your choosing straight onto the blender
3. Massage and rub it in until you see lots of soapy suds forming
4. Once the suds discolour and look as though they’re full of make-up, rinse the blender with cold water
5. Continue to repeat these steps until the water runs clear when the sponge is squeezed

How to clean beauty blenders: Soaking method

Cost: Around £5/$5 for the soap/cleanser | Time: 1 hour+

The soaking method shows how to clean beauty blenders with minimal effort, but is the longest method of the lot.

How to clean beauty blenders using the soaking method

1. Pour liquid cleanser or any liquid soap into a bowl with warm water
2. Placing the dirty beauty blender into the water making sure it’s fully submerged
3. Soak for at least an hour
4. Work the sponge into the soapy water and, once lathered, in water use your fingers to massage it
5. Once the bowl of soapy water turns brown, pour the water away and rinse off the sponge, squeezing until the water runs clears

How to clean beauty blenders: Microwave method

Cost: Around £5/$5 for the soap/cleanser | Time: 1 minute

This is certainly not a manufacturer-approved lesson in how to clean beauty blenders but it’s a popular, incredibly fast choice that proves popular online. The reason it’s not advisable is that the heat can damage the beauty blender and, if used too often, could see it start to flake or disintegrate. Not to mention the fact it’s dangerous.

How to clean beauty blenders using a microwave: 

We don’t recommend doing it this way, but if you’re going to do it, then at least do it safely following these steps:

1. Pour warm water with soap/liquid cleanser into a microwave-safe bowl or cup
2. Make sure there’s enough soapy water for the whole blender to be fully submerged
3. Dunk the sponge a couple of times in the water before leaving it to settle
4. Microwave the bowl/cup (with the sponge inside the water) for up to one minute
5. Wait at least a minute before even attempting to remove the beauty blender and safely pour the hot water away so as not to burn yourself

And if your beauty blender just can’t be saved, here are our top three alternative blenders: Beautyblender Aries sponge (£17) and Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (£6).

How to clean beauty blenders: StylPro Spin and Squeeze

Cost: Around £39.99 for the StylPro kit | Time: 5 minutes

One of the worst things about cleaning beauty blenders isn’t the washing itself, it’s the time it takes for the sponges to dry. If you have the budget, we recommend you invest in the StylPro Spin and Squeeze.

It features an electric attachment that spins either your makeup brushes, or your beauty sponges so fast, using centrifugal force, that it strips all of the water or soap/cleanser out of them.

You can watch out TikTok review of the Spin and Squeeze below or keep reading to get the step-by-step guide on how to use.

@victoria_woolly_web I was a bit skeptical and it’s a LOT more faff than simply washing it with soap. It also adds more things to wash 😅 (including my mirror when it splashed all over the place…) however the use of centrifugal force to dry the sponge is a game changer. Especially if I realise at the last minute that all my sponges are dirty 🫶 this isn’t an ad but it was gifted. I think I’ll probably still wash my sponges like normal but use this to dry them 💁🏼‍♀️ @STYLPRO by STYLIDEAS @Coco Cosmetics by Chloe #mamabella #stylpro #stylprosqueeze #beautyblender #beautyblendercleaning #spongesqueezing #cleansponges #beautysponge #cococosmeticsbychloe #cococosmetics ♬ I’ll Be Around (feat. Timbaland) (Radio Mix) – Cee-Lo

How to clean beauty blenders using the StylPro Spin and Squeeze: 

1. Pour the Makeup Sponge Cleanser into the Spin and Squeeze jug.
2. Drop the beauty sponge(s) into the cleanser – make sure there’s enough cleanser for the whole blender to be submerged.
3. Using the bottom of the Spin and Squeeze contraption, squash the blender(s) repeatedly for about a minute.
4. Using hot water from the tap or a kettle, fill the jug halfway.
5. Repeat step 3 again.
6. Pick up a beauty sponge in the Spin and Squeeze and, pressing the button on the back, move the plunger down so that it squeezes the dirty cleanser water out of the sponge.
7. Attach the electrical spinner and turn it on.
8. Let the sponge spin for about 30 seconds and remove.
9. Your beauty blender should be clean and dry!

Buy the Spin and Squeeze

♥︎ Don’t miss out! Sign up for the mamabella newsletter today ♥︎

MORE LIKE THIS

• We tested hundreds of cosmetics to see exactly what’s living in your makeup bag
• The science of moisturiser
• The best cheap makeup alternatives to Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Huda Beauty, and more
• Cheap skincare alternatives for La Mer, Skinceuticals and more
• Why you’re probably applying your makeup and skincare wrong
• Foundation samples UK: How to get free foundation samples online
• L’Oreal Paris Elvive’s new 100% recyclable bottles are set to save 7,000 tones of plastic a year
• Best sustainable beauty brands UK: Our pick of eco-friendly makeup and skincare brands and their must-have products
• How to clean makeup brushes
• What’s really in your foundation?
• What is mascara made of and how does it actually work?

Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End